§ 24. Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Minister of Transport when he expects the stages of the M63 in Stockport now under construction to be completed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSpring 1982.
§ Mr. BennettIn view of the increasing number of people who are out of work in the construction industry, will the hon. and learned Gentleman consider trying to speed up the contract so that that section of the road can be opened more quickly? Will he, particularly, look at the way in which the contracts should go on to the next stage so that we can have some continuity of construction within Stockport?
§ Mr. ClarkeI do not think that taking more people on will speed up construction. The problem is diverting the work of statutory undertakers at the moment. We are anxious to get on with the next section from Portwood to Denton. We hope to publish our Highways Act proposals this summer and I expect that construction will begin in the 1982–83 period.